Jashon Tatum Pleads Guilty to Federal Gun and Drug Charges
A Columbus man faces up to 40 years in prison after pleading guilty following an August 2024 high-speed chase.
2 reports on this incident · first at Aug 20, 2026, 8:51 a.m. ET
Earlier reports
Aug 20, 2026, 8:51 a.m. ETFirst report
Columbus Man Pleads Guilty to Gun and Drug Charges Following 2024 Chase
In a developing federal case, 29-year-old Jashon Tatum of Columbus pleaded guilty on Aug. 7, 2026, to possessing a machinegun, possessing ammunition as a previously convicted felon, and possessing controlled substances with intent to distribute, according to court records from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Ohio.
Official court documents state that on Aug. 28, 2024, Columbus police officers located Tatum near Sullivant and South Wayne avenues using a phone ping due to active felony warrants. Police observed Tatum driving a Mercedes Benz with the license plate "2BLK4U" and deployed a police helicopter. Records state Tatum drove erratically on I-71, nearly causing several accidents, before exiting near 11th Avenue and striking another vehicle. He fled on foot and threw items as officers pursued him, and was subsequently taken into custody by CPD SWAT and ATF task force officers.
Investigators recovered a pistol fitted with a machinegun conversion device, a magazine with ammunition, and narcotics containing fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine base. According to court records, Tatum admitted to having fentanyl and crack cocaine, stating he cut the fentanyl with sugar to lower its danger and sold drugs to pay for legal counsel in other criminal cases. Tatum was indicted and arrested in July 2025. Possessing a machinegun conversion device carries up to 10 years in prison, felon in possession of ammunition carries up to 15 years, and the drug charge carries five to 40 years. Sentencing will be determined at a future hearing before U.S. District Judge Michael H. Watson.
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Revision history
- Version 120 Aug 2026, 12:52current
First published.
- Version 120 Aug 2026, 12:51current
First published.
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